Boom and boom actuating mechanism



Feb. 22, 1966 A. L. GIRARDI BOOM AND BOOM ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet l 4G! w 1 m 'lrrap/vir Feb. 22, 1966 A. 1.. GIRARDI BOOM AND BOOM ACTUATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1964 INVENTOR. I ,4/vmW/0 L. 6/0490/ firraeA i) Feb. 22, 1966 A. 1.. GlRARDl BOOM AND BOOM ACTUATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1964 INVENTOR. fi/vra/v/o Z. 6/9490/ ATTOP/VE) United States Patent M 3,236,393 BOOM AND BOOM ACTUATEYG MECHANISM Antonio Lawrence Girardi, Stockton, Calif. (758 W. Acacia, Salinas, Calif.)

Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 794,545,

Feb. 20, 1959. This application Mar. 25, 1964, Ser- No. 359,540 12 Claims. (Cl. 212-55) This invention relates to boom supporting and actuating mechanism for orchard apparatus of the character disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,927,705.

More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in mechanism for mounting one or more booms upon a mobile carriage for angular adjustment about horizontal and vertical axes, and including an improved arrangement and structure of mechanism for extending and retarcting the boom along its longitudinal axis.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide an improved structure, arrangement, and cooperative relationship of parts and mechanisms for mounting one or more booms upon a carriage, and for effecting movement thereof through desired degrees of angular and axial adjustment, all designed to obtain economy in construction and efliciency in operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved boom and boom-supporting structure which will accommodate auxiliary mechanism in a compact manner, permitting a maximum utilization of space for the assembly and operation of primary and auxiliary parts, and which will improve the operative efficiency of the component parts separately and collectively in the assembly.

The invention has other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be hereinafter explained in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of the present specification. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the sructural features shown in the drawings, as the invention may be embodied in other forms, and the structural details may be variously modified, within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an orchard apparatus embodying the improvements of the present invention, parts being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental sectional view showing the structure and arrangement of the boom supporting and actuating mechanism of the present invention with the booms at the right and left side of the carriage being shown in different positions, the plane of the section indicated by the line 2--2. of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the structure shown in FIG. 2, the parts being shown as viewed upon the planes indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental vertical sectional detail view showing the structure and arrangement of the boom extending mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental detail view showing the guide for the forward end of the boom extending rod.

FIG. 6 is a fragmental sectional detail showing the means for pivoting together the ends of the lazy tong levers which form the sides of the boom.

In terms of broad inclusion, the present invention is directed to orchard apparatus embodying improvements in the structure and operation of booms and the mounting and actuating mechanism therefor, including improved mechanism for adjusting the position of a boom through 3,2353% Patented Feb. 22, 1966 desired angles of vertical and horizontal angular adjust ment, and for extending and retracting the boom along its longitudinal axis in any position of vertical and horizontal angular adjustment. The invention also contemplates improvements in boom structure designed to minimize obstruction to the mounting and operation of conveying means and associated auxiliary apparatus by which improve-d operative efiiciency may be obtained.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the numeral 11 designates a mobile carriage upon which booms 12 are mounted for angular and axial adjustment. The booms are provided with baskets 13 mounted upon the outer ends thereof, arranged to support a workman who, by suitable manipulation of the booms, may be moved to desired positions around adjacent trees to perform various operations, such as picking, thinning, pruning and the like. The functions and general structure and arrangement of these parts are similar to those of my copending application, Serial No. 570,165, above referred to, and to that extent a detailed description of the apparatus and its mode of operation is herein unnecessary. The invention now contemplated relates to improvements in the mechanism by which the boom is mounted and actuated through its range of angular and axial adjustment, and includes improved features of arrangement permitting auxiliary mechanisms and equipment to be mounted and operated with increased effectiveness.

More particularly, each boom 12 is mounted upon the carriage 11 by means of a supporting base 14 welded or otherwise secured to a frame portion 16 of the carriage. As illustrated, each base is a short, annular column having a lower flange 15, which seats upon the frame 16, and an upper flange 17 upon which is secured an annular bearing plate or ring 18. A turntable 19 is mounted for rotative movement upon the plate 18 by means of an anti-friction bearing, preferably comprising upper and lower cage rings 20 and 21. Bearing balls 22 are engaged between the plate 18 and the rings 20 and 21 to minimize friction and prevent binding under the eccentric loads, compressive and thrust, imposed by the boom, The rings 2%) and 21 are joined at their outer peripheries by an annular spacing band 23, and the bearing assembly is secured to the under side of the turntable 19 by bolts 29 or other suitable securing means extending through the rings 20 and 21, the band 23 and the turntable 19, as best shown in FIG. 2.

A sprocket ring 24 is secured to the band 23 to encircle the turntable bearing for each boom. A sprocket chain 25' extends over each sprocket ring 24 and a drive sprocket 26, which in turn is driven at a very low speed by a motor 27 through a suitable reduction gear unit 28. The sprocket ring 24, as illustrated, is formed as an annulus gripped between upper and lower sections and held by bolts 29 which secure the turntable and the bearing assembly together. I prefer to use a separate reversible hydraulic motor 27 for each boom, such motor being arranged to serve as a brake for holding the turntable and boom in any adjusted position. Other types of power units may be substituted for the hydraulic motors 27, and other flexible driving members, such as a belt or cable, may be substituted for the sprocket chain 25, if desired.

Each turntable 19 is provided with a pair of boom mounting brackets 31 between which the base of a boom 12 is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis passing through the upper ends of the brackets. In the improved device of the present invention, the boom mounting comprises a pair of arms 32 pivotally mounted upon a shaft 33 suitably supported at its ends by bearing members 34 secured upon the inner sides of the brackets.

J! Preferably, each arm 32 is connected to the shaft in a slightly forwardly offset position by means of a lug 36 through which the shaft 33 extends.

Each boom 12 is of the lazy-tong type illustrated in my earlier filed application, Serial No. 570,165, above referred to, and is of the same general structure except that in the present device, the boom comprises a pair of lazy tongs composed of a plurality of pairs of levers 37 pivotally connected in crossing relationship, the matching pairs of the lazy-tong levers forming opposite sides of the boom being interconnected only at the crossing points midway between their ends. The levers of corresponding pairs of the matching lazy tongs are journaled upon bearing portions 38 formed upon the ends of cross braces 39 which extend transversely between the lazy tongs. The ends of the levers 37 of each pair are pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the levers of adjacent pairs by pivot pins 40, which engage only the two ends which they connect. No direct cross connection is provided between the pivotally connected ends of the levers of one lazy tong and the corresponding pivoted ends of levers of the other lazy tongs, so as to leave clear the space between the two lazy tongs above and below the cross braces 39.

Each boom 12 is connected to its pair of mounting arms 32 by pivoting the ends of the innermost pair of levers 37 to the upper and lower ends of the arms 32. The lower end of one lever 37 ispivoted to the lower end of the adjacent arm 32 by a pivot pin 41. The upper end of the companion lever 37 is pivoted to the upper end of the adjacent arm 32 by a pivot pin 42, which is slidably movable along a slot 43 formed in the upper half of the arm, as best shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 2.

The mounting arms 32, upon which each boom 12 is mounted, are swung about the mounting shaft 33 therefor by means of hydraulic rams 44. Each ram 44 comprises a cylinder portion pivotally anchored to a bracket 46 secured to the turntable, upon which the boom is mounted, by a pivot pin 47. Piston rods 48 operated by the rams are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the mounting arms 32 associated therewith, as, for example, by pins 49 connecting the pistons to lugs 50 carried by the arms. Hydraulic pressure is introduced into either end of the ram through suitable inlet and outlet connections 51 in conventional manner. Movement of the arms 32 about the horizontal shaft 33 causes the boom to be swung bodily in a vertical plane'to a desired angle, the basket 31 at its outer end being thereby raised or lowered as desired. Since the ram 44 is anchored to the turntable 19, the boom may be moved through a desired vertical angle in any position to which the boom may be moved as it is swung through a horizontal angle by rotation of the turntable upon the base 14.

Each boom 12 is arranged to be extended and retracted along its longitudinal axis in any position of angular adjustment by a hydraulic ram 52 mounted for operation in a novel manner within the space between the lazy tongs, which form the sides of the boom, and below the cross pieces 39 by which the lazy tongs are connected and braced at the centers only of the crossing levers 37. Thus, a hydraulic ram 52 is pivotally anchored upon a shaft 53 extending between the lower ends of the mounting arms 32 upon which the boom is mounted. The shaft 53 is supported by lugs 54 extending forwardly from the lower portions of the arms 32, as best shown in FIG. 4.

Each boom 12 is provided with a rod 56 having its inner end secured to the innermost cross brace 39 by a suitable clamp fitting 57. The rod 56 extends forwardly under a plurality of the cross braces 39 connecting successive matching pairs of the lazy tong links and through a guide 58 clamped to a cross brace 39 appropriately spaced from the base end of the boom. A piston rod 59 operated by the ram 52 is connected to the rod 56 by a pin 61 extending through a lug 62 projecting downwardly from the under side of the rod. The guide 58 is slotted as at 63 to permit the lug 62 and guide to pass as the boom is extended and retracted. Power exerted by the ram is applied through the rod 56 to move the rearward cross brace 39 and the center portions of the levers 37. This movement is transmitted from each crossing pair of levers to the next in each of the two lazy tongs which form the sides of the boom. As the piston 59 is moved outwardly from the ram 52, the lazy tongs are extended; and, as the piston is moved inwardly, the lazy tongs are retracted, thereby extending and retracting the boom along its longitudinal axis.

The mounting of the ram 52 and rod 56 below the cross braces 39 and between the lazy tong sides of each boom affords material advantages. Thus the mechanism is safely and compactly fitted within the boom, in a position accessible from the under side of the boom for adjustment, repair or replacement. More important, however, is the added spaoe which is allowed for extending a conveyor belt to the outer end of the boom, regardless of the angular and axial adjustment of the boom. Such an extensible conveyor is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 763,653, filed September 26, 1958. In the present structure, however, the space above the cross braces is unobstructed along the full length of the boom, and take-up loops which are paid out and taken in as the boom is extended and retracted, may be of greater length and operate over guides of greater diameter, thereby obtaining increased range of adjustment and greater efiiciency. Also, the mechanism of the present invention permits the conveyor to operate smoothly over the base of the boom, to deliver fruit to a receiver 64 positioned above the boom supporting base, rather than through the base itself, as shown in my application, Serial No. 570,165. This materially lessens the likelihood of damage to fruit, and facilitates the transfer of fruit to auxiliary conveyors 35 and thence to a sorting table, such as shown in my copending application above referred to.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A boom support for orchard apparatus and the like comprising a base provided with an annular flange, upper and lower bearing rings positioned above and below the flange, bearing balls engaged between each of said rings and the flange, an annular band connecting the rings along their peripheries, a turntable secured to the upper ring, boom mounting brackets upon the turntable, a flexible drive member mounted in driving engagement with the band, and power operated means for actuating the drive member to impart rotative movement to the turntable.

2. A boom support as defined by claim 1 wherein a sprocket is mounted upon the band and the flexible drive member is a chain extended around the sprocket for imparting rotative movement to the rings and turntable.

3. A boom support as defined by claim 1 wherein the band is provided with a sprocket secured in encircling engagement therewith, a drive chain mounted over the sprocket, a motor, and means connecting the motor to the chain for imparting rotative movement to the rings and turntable.

4. A boom support as defined by claim 1 wherein the band is provided with a sprocket ring secured in encirling engagement therewith, a motor, a drive sprocket actuated by the motor speed reduction gearing interposed between the motor and the drive sprocket for actuating the sprocket at reduced speed and for holding the turntable at a selected position, and a chain mounted over the drive sprocket and sprocket ring for imparting rotative movement to the rings and turntable.

5. In an orchard apparatus of the character described, a boom supporting and actuating mechanism comprising a base, a turntable rotatably mounted upon the base, power actuated means for imparting rotative movement to the turntable, boom mounting brackets upon the turntable, a pair of tilting arms pivoted to the brackets for movement about a horizontal axis near the upper ends of the arms, an extensible boom mounted upon the arms, and hydraulic ram means connected to the arms near the lower ends thereof for imparting pivotal movement to the arms for raising and lowering the boom about the horizontal axis.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein the boom is of lazy-tong construction comprising a pair of spaced matching lazy tongs, each composed of a succession of pairs of levers pivotally connected in crossing relationship upon central pivot axes midway between the ends of the levers, cross rods connecting and bracing the lazy tongs in spaced relation, said cross rods connecting the lazy tongs only along the central pivot axes of corresponding pairs of lever, the ends of the levers of each pair being connected to the adjacent ends of adjacent pairs of levers by pivot pins extending through only the connected end of the levers of the respective lazy tongs, said boom being provided with hydraulic ram means for extending and retracting the boom along its longitudinal axis.

7. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein the boom is of lazy-tong construction comprising a pair of spaced matching lazy tongs, each composed of a succession of pairs of levers pivotally connected in crossing relationship upon central pivot axes midway between the ends of the levers, cross rods connecting and bracing the lazy tongs in spaced relation, said cross rods connecting the lazy tongs only along the central pivot axes of corre sponding pairs of levers, the ends of the levers of each pair being connected to the adjacent ends of adjacent pairs of levers by pivot pins extending through only the connected ends of the levers of the respective lazy tongs, said boom being provided with hydraulic ram means mounted and operating substantially wholly within the space between the lazy tongs and below the cross rods for extending and retracting the boom along its longitudinal axis.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein the boom is of lazy-tong construction comprising a pair of spaced matching lazy tongs, each composed of a succession of pairs of levers pivotally connected in crossing relationship upon central pivot axes midway between the ends of the levers, cross rods connecting and bracing the lazy tongs in spaced relation said cross rods connecting the lazy tongs only along the central pivot axes of corresponding pairs of levers, the ends of the levers of each pair being connected to the adjacent ends of adjacent pairs of levers by pivot pins extending through only the connected ends of the levers of the respective lazy tongs, said boom being provided with hydraulic ram means anchored to one of the tilting arms and extending outwardly along the boom between the lazy tongs and below the cross rods, a boom actuating rod anchored to the innermost cross rod and extending outwardly below the cross rods, a guide secured to a cross rod spaced outwardly from said innermost cross rod and arranged to slidably support the boom actuating rod, and means connecting the ram to the actuating rod for extending and retracting the boom along the longitudinal axis.

9. In an orchard apparatus of the character described, a boom comprising a pair of lazy tongs connected and braced in spaced relation only by cross shafts provided with hearing portions upon which the lever arms of the lazy tongs are journaled in crossing relationship at points midway between their ends, pivot pins engaging and pivotally connecting only the adjacent ends of adjacent levers of the respective lazy tongs, a boom extending rod secured to the innermost cross shaft and slidably engaged by a guide secured to a cross shaft spaced outwardly along the boom from said innermost shaft, and a hydraulic ram positioned between the lazy tongs and connected to the rod at a point outward-1y spaced from the base of the boom a distance embracing a plurality of pairs of lazytong forming links for exerting force through the rod at said outwardly spaced point to extend and retract the boom.

10. In an orchard apparatus of the character described having a boom of lazytong construction formed of spaced matching lazy tongs, each composed of a plurality of pivotally connected levers, boom supporting and actuating mechanism comprising a base, a turntable rotatable upon the base and provided with upwardly extending brackets, a pair of boom mounting arms pivotally mounted upon the inner sides of the brackets for movements about a horizontal pivot axis positioned near the upper ends of the arms, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of the innermost levers of the lazy tongs to the lower ends of the mounting arms, means slidably and pivotally connecting the upper ends of said innermost lazy-tong levers to the upper ends of the mounting arms, and hydraulic ram means anchored to the turntable and connected to the lower ends of the mounting arms for moving said arms and the boom supported thereon about their horizontal pivot axis.

11. Boom supporting and actuating mechanism as defined by claim 10 provided with a hydraulic ram anchored to one of the boom mounting arms and extending longitudinally outwardly within the boom, a boom actuating rod connected to the boom adjacent the innermost end of the boom, and means connecting the ram to the rod at a point spaced a substantial distance outward from the innermost end of the boom.

12. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a boom of lazy tong construction formed of crossing pairs of pivotally connected lever arms is mounted upon a turntable having spaced upwardly extending brackets, a pair of boom mounting arms each :having a longitudinally extending slot formed in its upper end, a mounting shaft supported by the brackets in a substantially horizontal position, a bearing upon the slotted end of each arm pivotally engaging the shaft for supporting the arms thereupon, a fixed pivot at the lower end of each arm pivotally connecting the same to the lower ends of the innermost lever arms of the boom, and movable pivots slidably and pivotally connecting the upper ends of the innermost lever arms to the slotted upper ends of the mounting arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,905,262 9/1959 Zwight 21483.1 X 3,107,790 10/1963 Lehmann 2123 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,976 6/1933 Italy.

SAMUEL F, CO EMAN, Primary mi er. 

5. IN AN ORCHARD APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A BOOM SUPPORTING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A BASE, A TURNTABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED UPON THE BASE, POWER ACTUATED MEANS FOR IMPARTING ROTATIVE MOVEMENT TO THE TURNTABLE, BOOM MOUNTING BRACKETS UPON THE TURNTABLE, A PAIR OF TILTING ARMS PIVOTED TO THE BRACKETS FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS NEAR THE UPPER ENDS OF THE ARMS, AN EXTENSIBLE BOOM MOUNTED UPON THE ARMS, AND HYDRAULIC RAM MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ARM NEAR THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF FOR IMPARTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TO THE ARMS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE BOOM ABOUT THE HORIZONTAL AXIS. 